Our Midfield 2025

[cwrcyn]

Early this year I was highly pessimistic about our midfield for 2025. With Crouch seemingly toast with his wonky knee, Ross fading before our eyes and Phillipou struggling to get a touch,it looked like Jack Steele was our only centre bounce player of worth..

Forward six months and we've seen that Clark can be an effective and creative midfielder, Phillipou has turned the corner and Garcia has surprised us all with his speed, composure, and tenacity.

We'll go to the draft looking for mids, but it's nice to know we have a couple of talented young ones in Phillipou and Garcia already.

[The_Dud]

I think Cripps showed today how far off our mids are, and the difference between ‘very good’ and ‘elite’. He single handedly nearly won that game for the Blues.

To contend we’ll need to find at least 2 close to his calibre. If we could get 2 early firsts for King, would we do it?

[B.M]

Don’t get the Hunter Clark love

Averaged less than 20ppg as a mid

Kicked 1 goal in 11 games

1 contested mark for the year, Zero bounces, 2 goal assists

3.8 clearances per game, 1 rebound, 3.8 i50s

They are actually very average numbers for an inside mid.

His running ability is not good enough- football ability is

[bigcarl]

Have high hopes for Garcia and Phillipou and Clark is more than useful, but as Dudley said we don’t have a Cripps type, not yet anyway.

A big, powerful match-winner type like a Petracca, Bont, Horne-Francis, Dangerfield or the retired Dusty.

[nostalgicsaint]

Don’t get the Hunter Clark love

Averaged less than 20ppg as a mid

Kicked 1 goal in 11 games

1 contested mark for the year, Zero bounces, 2 goal assists

3.8 clearances per game, 1 rebound, 3.8 i50s

They are actually very average numbers for an inside mid.

His running ability is not good enough- football ability is

Stats don't tell the whole story when you've had an interrupted preseason. A calf injury and a fractured face.

Add to this the amount of deft touches, blocks etc that he does in stoppages you don't get stats for and you start to get an understanding of why.

Today he was our number one clearance winner and number one center clearance player. To go with his 22 touches.

He isn't going to be cripps but he is a very very good clearance mid.

[chook23]

Have high hopes for Garcia and Phillipou and Clark is more than useful, but as Dudley said we don’t have a Cripps type, not yet anyway.

A big, powerful match-winner type like a Petracca, Bont, Horne-Francis, Dangerfield or the retired Dusty.

Pou is not 20 yet

6'3" 88kg?

Providing he works really hard (think he will)

In a couple of years will be a very dangerous mid who scores

[bigcarl]

Have high hopes for Garcia and Phillipou and Clark is more than useful, but as Dudley said we don’t have a Cripps type, not yet anyway.

A big, powerful match-winner type like a Petracca, Bont, Horne-Francis, Dangerfield or the retired Dusty.

Pou is not 20 yet

6'3" 88kg?

Providing he works really hard (think he will)

In a couple of years will be a very dangerous mid who scores

Yes, let’s hope he can develop into that player.

[cwrcyn]

Cripps is a unique footballer and the most powerful man who's played as a midfielder I have seen. The guy is just amazing.

[magnifisaint]

Cripps is a unique footballer and the most powerful man who's played as a midfielder I have seen. The guy is just amazing.

And how many years did it take to be elite?
I reckon about 100 games.

[chook23]

Pou last 4 AFL games

90 disposals average 22.5 + 1 goal each game

Pretty fair for a 19 yr old

[Banger9798]

It's a B grade midfield at best.

Steele, Windhager, Phillipou decent and are B+ to A--

Jones, Clark, Dow - Depth

Ross, Crouch - gone

Garcia, Henry - some upside

Picks 7 and 8 need to be pure mids

LDU as a FA?

[skeptic]

Pou is looking like a champ in the making but we need to replace Crouch with a high end talent. There’s definitely room for one more.

Looking at the teams that appear to be going nowhere…
Serong
Brayshaw
Anderson
Day
LDU
Taranto

I’d throw the farm at all on them and see if we could pry one away

[ROLS-LEE]

Pou last 4 AFL games

90 disposals average 22.5 + 1 goal each game

Pretty fair for a 19 yr old

Just remember, if his birthday was a few days later, he would have been the #1 draft pick last year

[B.M]

Ahead of Harley Reid??

Doubt it

He may have gone 2

[SteeleSaints]

Don’t get the Hunter Clark love

Averaged less than 20ppg as a mid

Kicked 1 goal in 11 games

1 contested mark for the year, Zero bounces, 2 goal assists

3.8 clearances per game, 1 rebound, 3.8 i50s

They are actually very average numbers for an inside mid.

His running ability is not good enough- football ability is

Totally agree its Saints supporters living in hope because our midfield is so ordinary. Clark wouldnt get a game in any other AFL midfield. There is no doubt he can play but his running and fitness are a major weakness. IF he can improve his fitness & strength in the off season he may become a good midfielder but ATM he is not doing enough and is a liability on turn over.

[nostalgicsaint]

Don’t get the Hunter Clark love

Averaged less than 20ppg as a mid

Kicked 1 goal in 11 games

1 contested mark for the year, Zero bounces, 2 goal assists

3.8 clearances per game, 1 rebound, 3.8 i50s

They are actually very average numbers for an inside mid.

His running ability is not good enough- football ability is

Totally agree its Saints supporters living in hope because our midfield is so ordinary. Clark wouldnt get a game in any other AFL midfield. There is no doubt he can play but his running and fitness are a major weakness. IF he can improve his fitness & strength in the off season he may become a good midfielder but ATM he is not doing enough and is a liability on turn over.

Think he would get a game at every AFL club. May not be the star or first picked but would make the side and spend some time onball.

[bakes]

I think Cripps showed today how far off our mids are, and the difference between ‘very good’ and ‘elite’. He single handedly nearly won that game for the Blues.

To contend we’ll need to find at least 2 close to his calibre. If we could get 2 early firsts for King, would we do it?

Yes, we should do it. I've been an advocate for offloading King now before he becomes our next Billings.

This is how it gets done:

Saints in: Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5), Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently).
Saints out: Max King.

Demons in: Max King, Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).
Demons out: Christian Petracca, Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5).

Carlton in: Christian Petracca.
Carlton out: Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently), Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).

I think the Demons get screwed from the above so it needs some tinkering, but you get the gist.
Dees need a key forward.
Blues are in the 'window' and need another elite player
Saints are still building and need to keep going to the draft this year.

[B.M]

We trade out Max King

We are stupid

[The_Dud]

Hit this draft with 4 or 5 first round picks (some top 10) targeting pure mids, then in a few years when they're up and firing bring in a mature big bodied quality key forward looking for a premiership.

[D.B.Cooper]

I think Cripps showed today how far off our mids are, and the difference between ‘very good’ and ‘elite’. He single handedly nearly won that game for the Blues.

To contend we’ll need to find at least 2 close to his calibre. If we could get 2 early firsts for King, would we do it?

Yes, we should do it. I've been an advocate for offloading King now before he becomes our next Billings.

This is how it gets done:

Saints in: Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5), Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently).
Saints out: Max King.

Demons in: Max King, Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).
Demons out: Christian Petracca, Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5).

Carlton in: Christian Petracca.
Carlton out: Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently), Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).

I think the Demons get screwed from the above so it needs some tinkering, but you get the gist.
Dees need a key forward.
Blues are in the 'window' and need another elite player
Saints are still building and need to keep going to the draft this year.

Blues out = 2 X first rounders for Petracca
Demons out = Petracca and #5 for Max King?
Saints out King for #5 & #11

I like your logic, but why would either Carlton or Melbourne consider those deals?

[WellardSaint]

I'm sure the Injectors cried when Basil Fawlty (J Daniher,) headed north to sunny Qld.
Tall marking forwards can move clubs.

J Cameron left the Great Western Frankensteins

[Brunswicksainter]

I think Cripps showed today how far off our mids are, and the difference between ‘very good’ and ‘elite’. He single handedly nearly won that game for the Blues.

To contend we’ll need to find at least 2 close to his calibre. If we could get 2 early firsts for King, would we do it?

Yes, we should do it. I've been an advocate for offloading King now before he becomes our next Billings.

This is how it gets done:

Saints in: Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5), Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently).
Saints out: Max King.

Demons in: Max King, Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).
Demons out: Christian Petracca, Demons 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #5).

Carlton in: Christian Petracca.
Carlton out: Blues 1st round pick 2024 (Pick #11 currently), Blues 1st round pick 2025 (Pick #TBA).

I think the Demons get screwed from the above so it needs some tinkering, but you get the gist.
Dees need a key forward.
Blues are in the 'window' and need another elite player
Saints are still building and need to keep going to the draft this year.

Demons wouldnt take that trade would need another first (probably ours for 2025) at least

[The G Train Legacy]

We trade out Max King

We are stupid

Indeed. I'd only do that deal for Harley Reid.

[bakes]

[quote=B.M post_id=2075944 time=<a href="tel:1724727228">1724727228</a> user_id=23497]
We trade out Max King

We are stupid

Indeed. I'd only do that deal for Harley Reid.
[/quote]

G Train c’mon. Harley Reid would command 3-4 first rounders. Max King would be lucky to get 1 first rounder. They are not equals.

[Killa]

Carlton once traded for Judd

Giving up Kennedy

How did that turn out?